West Norfolk Council ‘should house at least 10 Syrian families’, says religious group

A Lynn religious group has called for at least 10 Syrian families to be housed in West Norfolk as part of the national response to the refugee crisis.

Officials from the town’s Quaker meeting have urged West Norfolk Council leaders to contribute to the programme, which is currently set to see 20,000 refugees admitted over the next five years.

The authority has said it will respond “positively” to any requests it receives for support.

In a letter to council leader Nick Daubney, the meeting’s clerk, Valerie Rushton, said: “This exceptional time of need calls for a proportionate response from all the governments of Europe working together.

“We call for mechanisms to be created that will enable people to travel safely and to secure legal protection, including in Britain.

“Refugees are fleeing from fear. Further violent interventions in countries such as Syria will not provide a solution.

“Difficult but compassionate decisions need to be made to secure peace for people in these regions.

“We ask the borough council to use its best efforts to contribute to any humanitarian programme by offering sanctuary in West Norfolk to at least 10 vulnerable Syrian families as part of the government agreed relocation from camps on the Lebanon border.

“As always, we would seek to support such families in any way we can.”

The first group of Syrian refugees to be resettled in Britain since the current crisis began arrived earlier this week.